Machete-armed man runs amok, threatens his mother and cops

IPOH: A man, believed to be mentally unstable, was arrested after he threatened to attack his mother and the police at Sungai Pari here on Monday evening.

Police received a report from the woman that her 36-year-old son was threatening to run amok at her house at Jalan Leong Boon Siew here.

When police arrived at the house around 5.30pm, they found the suspect with two machetes, and he threatened to attack if they came near him.

Ipoh Deputy OCPD Supt Abdul Rani Alias said police spent more than 10 minutes trying to pacify him, but he refused to put down the weapons.

"Suddenly, he ran out of the house and headed towards Sungai Pari. He stood in front of the river and we still tried to pacify him but he refused to listen.

"Eventually, he dropped the two machetes but we did not know he was also holding a pair of scissors. He threatened to use that instead.

"Police stepped in and a struggle ensued, but we managed to subdue him. No one was injured and he was arrested," he told reporters after attending the monthly Ipoh police headquarters meeting.

Supt Abdul Rani said the suspect, who has three previous records including drug related offences, had been admitted twice to Hospital Bahagia due to mental health issues.

"We believe he is an unsound man. Urine tests will also be conducted," he added.

Police have classified the case under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation and Section 6 (1) of the Corrosive and Explosive Substances and Offensive Weapons Act 1958.